Wednesday, April 25, 2007

I had to make changes to all the stuff I’m tracking. That’s all four of them!

The Nats lost

Nats are once again the most hapless team

Dmitri Young had an error

Cristian Guzman continues to contribute nothing

Don’t get me wrong: the Phillies have yet to distance themselves from haplessness. But they are winning – and with another game against the Nats and an upcoming series with the Marlins, the Phillies are clearly not the most hapless team. The Nats have regained that position.

I have the feeling that today is the last day I’ll be able to use the term “ace” and be speaking of John Patterson. If he pitches poorly tonight, that’s it. He’s out or contention for “ace.” As I mentioned earlier, Matt Chico isn’t in contention either. So who will it be?

Monday, April 23, 2007

Matt Chico is totally out of the running for the title of “ace.” You can’t walk the opposing pitcher twice and have any shot at it.

A big Thank You to Dmitri Young for getting an error over the weekend. It allowed me to finally add another one to his total. And it gave me a little more confidence is leaving his error total on top of the page. I figure that he’ll have to go at least a week without an error for me to think about ignoring his errors again.

Sure, the Phillies have a higher winning percentage than the Nationals. So what? Considering how they are supposed to play, they will remain the most hapless team until they can put some distance between them and the Nats.

Friday, April 20, 2007

When I refer to the “ace,” we all know who I’m talking about: John Patterson. The subtle disrespect of putting quotation marks around that word is lots of fun. But if the “ace” continues to pitch like he has, then we can no longer even call him an “ace.”

I’m going to give the “ace” one more shot. Also, any other starter gets another start to see if they can be called “ace” – or, perhaps, just ace. We shall see.

Furthermore, the inability of Dmitri Young to get more errors may force me to stop keeping track.

But I don’t feel disenfranchised. There is a worse team out there.

And I sleep like a baby knowing that Cristian Guzman continues to contribute nothing to this team.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Did I think the Nationals were really going to win? Or did I think it was really going to rain a lot?

I like to think that the Nats are mudders (Or, if you prefer, mudlarks). You know, like horse racing. You see, under clear skies you know the Nats are overmatched. But if the rain is pouring down and the field is… well, muddy… then perhaps the talent gap between the Nats and the opponents is less vast.

I don’t know if this makes sense to you. But it makes complete sense to me.

The Boston Red Sox picked up J.D. Durbin off the waiver wire. Durbin, who once dubbed himself the “Real Deal,” has been on three different teams since… well … three weeks ago. The Red Sox are now his most recent.

Durbin’s Myspace account seems to have been deleted. Even so, wouldn’t this guy be a perfect addition to the Nats roster? No… that’s too easy. But it got me thinking. Who the Nats really need to throw some pitches – and lighten up the clubhouse – is another “J.D.” That’s right, J.D. McNugent.

More ominous is the play of Kory Casto. The young prospect is now riding the pine. Of course, at his age he has to play every day… so will the Nats send him down? Very possible.

Even more ominous is the errors. The Nats are having a hell of a time with the fundamentals of the game. Dmitri Young had his second error of the season, which is actually a positive. I mean, I thought he would have at least four by now.

Major League Baseball’s decision to move the Indians-Angels series to Milwaukee got me thinking…

Can Washington get in on some of this action?

The Indians and Angels are two exciting teams. Folks in Milwaukee already have an exciting home team. How unfair that folks in Milwaukee can see additional baseball games showcasing two exciting teams while inhaling Stadium Sauce-laden hotdogs.

At best this season, Nats fans will get to see one exciting team – the opposition.

Let’s just look at today’s matchups:

Astros-Cubs

Cardinals-Pirates

Twins-Yankees

I could go on…

Point being, how great would it be for Nats fans to be able to head over to RFK tonight, plop down 10 bucks for lower-bowl general admission, and see two exciting teams? The answer: Pretty great.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Just so you know how it all works, because they have the day off today, the Nats have zero chance of adding to the loss column. Cool.

So we know the losses will be plentiful. And because we must bide our time to the new stadium opening, the Nats have the opportunity this season to really make things exciting. You know, get fans in the seats later in the season when they’re 40 games back in the standings.

Here are some ideas:

Draft Pat Venditte

He’s the ambidextrous pitcher out of CreightonUniversity. That’s right: He can throw the ball right-handed to one batter; then switch arms and throw left-handed to the next. The MLB draft is coming up in June. The Nats could pick him, sign him quickly, and get him in the bullpen immediately. I don’t care how Circus-ish it sounds. I would pay to see him pitch at RFK.

Trade for Loek Van Mil

The Minnesota Twins pitching prospect is 7-1. No, that’s not his record; it’s his height! Mil is a minor prospect for the Twins, so the Nats could probably land him easily. He could be in the starting rotation within weeks. He would be the tallest player to ever play in the Majors. And he could be that person in the Nats jersey.

Trade for Julio Franco

He is the oldest regular position player in Major League history. But that’s not all. Every time he pinch-runs, pinch-hits, gets a double, gets a triple, etc… it makes historians ask themselves, “Is he the oldest player to ever do that?” And the Nats could probably get him in a trade. Also, though doesn’t wear one, he is the last MLB player eligible to wear a batting helmet with no ear flaps.

Get Ripken

Cal Ripken… hell, Bill Ripken… just get any ol’ Ripken in a uniform will do. Come August, both the Nats and Orioles will have trouble filling the seats. Might as well steal a few fans from Baltimore by having a Ripken at RFK.

Cristian Guzman has been put on the DL. (Actually, this could be considered a highlight, but there’s nothing else to highlight so I refuse – refuse – to create a “highlights” section today. Maybe some day.)